First of all I’m very sorry to hear it Rob, from one fellow biker to another.
It’s just about the most risky manoeuvre you can perform on a bike and I’m always fearful of someone doing exactly what you have described. TBH, I have had one or two close calls filtering through traffic on motorways when it’s backed up several miles and frustrated drivers are vying for a lane which will give them an advantage.
You mention 40 mph Robin but I think the police have a rule that you should not have a differential speed of more than 20 mph when filtering. I can’t remember who told me now or indeed how truthful that is? I think it’s possibly more of a tacit agreement between traf pol, assessed by sight, but if nothing else it sounds like a good rule to me and is probably why, so far but not the only reason, I have escaped
I’m in no doubt it
could happen to me though no matter how careful I am so as Shakespeare might say ‘to filter or not to filter, that is the question’. I agree with Robin that 45 mph does seem a little bit quick for the conditions if you don't mind me saying?
There are countries, like Canada for one, where you are forbidden to filter and if someone tried to there are many drivers who will deliberately try to impede you. On safety grounds it does sound like filtering is a bad idea but on easing congestion and Greenness it has to be a good thing so long as it is just used with great caution. You would also have to ask should cyclists' be forced to do the same thing so I think it could get quite silly if filtering wasn't allowed. We are the sand between the stones and boulders
Once again, it's about education and training for
all road users.
I wish you a swift recovery and I guess if it does go 50/50 you can at least count your blessings. I saw a man recently who came off his bike at less than 20 mph. He gave it a bit too much from a standstill and the back wheel stepped out before eventually throwing him off. He broke his neck but I’ll leave what remains and how he is cared for to your imagination...
Take care bud and I'd be interested to hear the eventual outcome.
Tony